Divergent (2014) Movie Review

I found this movie extremely disappointing, due to the lack of detail and background information. To start off with the casting was extremely wrong! Theo James (Tobias/Four) was described as having almost black hair and deep blue eyes, Theo however has light brown hair and brown eyes, this would not have been important if it hadn’t have been for the fact that Tris references his deep blue eyes a number of 6 times. Not to mention Ms. Woodley herself was supposed to have a large nose, referenced in the second book “Allegiant.” Her mother was to have blonde hair and it was dark brown. Al was supposed to be chubby and was actually quite handsome. And Eric, who was to have long straggly hair and was supposed to look unclean, was in fact very well put together with short hair.

Also, the movie left out important information. They did not show the scene where Edward gets stabbed with a butter knife in the eye, and only referenced his name once, when both his eyes and he are quite significant in the second and third book. Also, they did not show very much of the attack on Tris at the chasm, or mention that the other two attackers were Peter and Edward or that Peter tried to rape Tris and sexually assaulted her. Plus, the director did not show the emotions that Al had for Tris when he came onto her with a schoolboy crush that was short lived when she informs him that the feeling is not mutual. In addition, when they break into the control room there is a whole team of people and Jeanine Mathews is controlling the attack simulation, whereas in the book only Tobias is in the room and Tris rescues him by kissing him, Jeanine was never stabbed in the hand.

You also did not get to know insight on Will or Uriah, in fact they don’t even say Uriah’s name. Even though he is in the movie and you don’t get to know that Christina and Will have a relationship, which is important for the second movie because Christina shows hatred towards Tris. Oh yes, and they left out the scene where a muffin gets shot off of a girls head, which was not important, but a fun snippet, and they don’t show Tris getting her second and third tattoos on her shoulders.

In the end it was a good movie, but it was not correct in comparison to the books.

5 Comments

Characters never look exactly like they’re described in the book, and the actors did a great job with what they were given. I completely agree on the Edward thing; I don’t see how they’ll pull off explaining his hatred to Peter and reason for becoming factionless when he’s a great fighter in Insurgent, Allegiant part I, and Allegiant part 2. One additional thing that disappoints me is the lack of love story between Tris and Tobias/Four. In the book, they hang out at the chasm, he tells her she looks beautiful when he’s drunk, inside Four’s fear landscape with the walls closing in, and there are a lot of scenes that show their feelings for each other. But in the movie, he saves her, they kiss, and she says she loves him in Jeanine’s lab.

All of my friends say Theo was the best choice while I say no. They also left out more than just that…I was overly ticked when Uriah wasn’t in it or mentioned. Btw my friends only think he fits cause he is handsome…not to me.

I agree, like all the guys have blonde hair and Tobias/Four I couldn’t even look at him that way as I imagined him and Eric doesn’t look ruthless at all, he looks normal like a jerk and same thing for Peter.

Okay a movie cannot be exactly like the books it’s not possible and anyone who has read the books would know what to expect. Who cares if the actors don’t look like what the book described almost every movie does it so it’s not a big deal. One thing I do agree on is when Edward gets stabbed in the eye since it is such a major thing that happened in the books. I loved how they changed the ending to having Jeanine and her crew in the room with Tobias it made it different from the books and that is what people are looking for. I give this movie a well deserving 10 out of 10 and I understand where you are coming from I just don’t agree with it.